G'day,

Yes, you are correct; the 8044 has an 8051 core but it is optimised as a serial slave device (HDLC/SDLC).
So I guess you could program it as an 8051 device, but it has 4k of internal ROM that is dedicated to serial transmission. If you could get hold of the flowchart or command set for this then you could perhaps make some use of it...
I have personally tried to get some use out of all those 8042 keyboard chips, but I can't get hold of the command set (they are 8048 chips..)...

good luck ( I have the Intel databook which has the info on the 8044..if you need any more information)

regards,

Peter Rolls